What is a Giving Goal?

Often, the idealism of youth is lost as one achieves success and acquires material possessions later in life. What was originally considered to be “enough” or even “beyond my wildest dreams” can become just another milestone on one’s quest…

Capturing your current vision of how you wish to give of yourself and your resources in the future could help you plan to give more meaningfully. Revisiting this vision in ten or twenty years could provide a reminder of the ideals of your youth that may shape or re-shape your future actions.

If you have already posted your Giving Goal and would like to update your email for future reminders, please contact [email protected]

Step 1

Have a healthy and vigorous dialogue in your class on the general idea of having a personal Giving Goal as a college student.

Step 2

Set a Giving Goal concerning your future giving plans.

Step 3

Share a brief statement of your Giving Goals on The Philanthropy Lab’s portal as a way to inspire others to do the same. You may post anonymously to the public if you wish.

Step 4

Share your permanent email address and phone number with The Philanthropy Lab, for the sole purpose of the reminder mechanism, so we can remind you of your goal in 5 year increments for 20 years into the future.

Alumni Reflections

"What a sweet reminder of this pledge! I've definitely given and volunteered in the last 6yrs. It's been a joy to continue the journey of generosity since graduating from undergrad. I'm back in grad school and I am looking forward to finishing my MSW. There will be new ways I give back to the community!"

"Thank you so much for this valuable reminder of my Giving Pledge. I'm proud to say I've dedicated several hours of volunteer time & services to Arts Education non-profits and will continue to live out this pledge"

“Thanks for reaching out––I'm actively still volunteering at two non-profits now in NYC (one free food service called "Wellfare" and a neighborhood homeless shelter)”

"Thank you for your email! The Philanthropy Lab was a life changing experience for me. I ended up joining the board of Malawi Children's Village to run the women empowerment program, which is what the Philanthropy Lab grant was for. In August, I am going to Malawi to see the project in action!"

"I was so happy to see this email pop into my inbox, it feels like a lifetime ago I was in this course. I appreciate all that I learned in this class and have taken its messages with me through these past 5 years. I do plan on maintaining the promise I made in this class"

"Thanks for this reminder. I actually still have a handwritten version of that note on the magnet board in my home office."

Search for Giving Goals

Over 4,200+ course participants have written giving goals in a demonstration of leadership!

Anonymous

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2018

Upon the completion of University I will contribute 15% of my annual income and assets to causes I deem worthy of philanthropic efforts.

Anonymous

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2018

My goal is to give 15% of my salary 5 years after college once I have joined a church and become a consistent volunteer at a given nonprofit.

Anonymous

Vanderbilt University

Spring
2018

I pledge to dedicate 5% of my annual salary to philanthropic causes that support my own passions, as well as some that support causes of my friends and family. I also pledge to volunteer at least 20 days per year.

Anonymous

University of Washington

Spring
2018

My giving goal is to be actively involved in philanthropy that relates to issues I’m passionate about. This means to contribute financially to organizations that I have heavily researched, and it means to donate my time as well. I would like to begin doing so once I’m in my career so that I have financial stability and can sustainably support an organization/organizations. I think it’s important to support issues that I’m passionate about and have more knowledge on because then I will be more likely to maintain my goal with hopes to see changes in something more personal and I will be able to contribute more than just finances. I also think it’s important to research these organizations and make sure I’m giving responsibly and not to an organization which indirectly harms a community or marginalized people.

Anonymous

University of Washington

Spring
2018

I pledge my goal with the idea of abundance in mind. Rather than state a number or a percentage that will either be too much, or too little, depending on my ability, I pledge to undertake a life of service and giving. This lifestyle will touch every aspect of my life, from my effort to maintain happy and healthy relationships with my loved ones, my effort in my career to serve our societies most marginalized populations, or my effort to devote time and resources to causes greater than myself. There is one specific element of my giving goal to develop and commit to wholeheartedly. I pledge to develop a system for cutting out the excess material and spending in my life, and then allocate those saved funds to the causes listed above. Much of my spending is unnecessary and wasteful. I will take the time to consider a defined system that identifies the material goods in my life and whether I truly need them, and identifies my spending and works to reduce it to only what I truly need.

Anonymous

University of Washington

Spring
2018

From my professional career to personal life, I challenge myself to prioritize giving and be a holistically philanthropic person. Rather than filling my life with materialistic things, I want to consume less and give more. I will also encourage people around me to value giving over buying. In the future, I will work in the non-profit sector to maximize philanthropic efforts and encourage all of my future employers and/or employees to prioritize philanthropy. Whenever possible, I will give my time, talents, and money to various initiatives I feel passionate about. As an educated and privileged individual, I want to devote my life to philanthropy.